If there’s any team that knows how the Vancouver Canucks feel – even if they don’t face the same around the clock criticism in their neck of the woods – it’s the Boston Bruins. After all, they are only about a year removed from dropping a second round series against the Philadelphia Flyers despite building a 3-0 series lead. The Bruins became only the third team in NHL history to author such a collapse after coughing up an all-too-fitting 3-0 lead in the Game 7 itself.

Tonight’s Game 6 in Montreal provides the Bruins an interesting opportunity to get a heavy monkey off their backs. Will they be able to put the Habs away or will they lose their fifth consecutive elimination game?

Let’s face it, the Bruins are going against a franchise that was awfully tough to shake in 2010. The Canadiens fought back from a 3-1 series deficit against the Washington Capitals and dug themselves out of a 3-2 hole against the Pittsburgh Penguins to advance to the Eastern Conference finals. They finally gave way to a Philadelphia Flyers team that was tougher and more talented, but the Habs still made quite the impression by going 5-1 in elimination games last year.

Now, obviously, the Canadiens currently roll with Carey Price instead of Jaroslav Halak in net*. Still, much of that pesky moxie remains.

“It’s human nature to relax, you know, but successful teams – teams that have won – have always been able to play their best games in those situations, and that’s what we’re looking for from our team,” said Gregory Campbell, talking about the natural snooze button that some hockey teams can hit when they’re up in a playoff series. “We have to be at our best. It won’t be easy, but we’re taking the same approach from the last three games.”

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“We went through a lot in the Philly series last year, but Montreal went through a lot coming back in the Washington and Pittsburgh series,” Lucic said. “They’re not going to quit. There’s still a lot of fight left in that team. They’re a desperate hockey club fighting for their lives, and they’re going to do whatever they can to win.

“We’re prepared for their best game tonight. It’ll be a fun hockey game to be a part of. They’re gonna come out flying with the crowd and the city buzzing. If anything, we want to do whatever we can to have a good start.

“It won’t be easy. The fourth one is always the toughest. There’s a saying, ‘Will over Skill’, and whoever is more willing to win is going to.”

All hackneyed sayings aside, these two teams have delivered the kind of series hockey fans were hoping for once it was clear they’d square off. Some might say that it would only be fitting for it to go the distance, but the Bruins would be happy to finish off their divisional and historical foes tonight. We’ll see if they can get the job done in Game 6.